Thursday, March 29, 2012

The Foundation of Evangelism & Righteousness

“The fear
of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge...through knowledge the righteous
will be delivered” (Proverbs 1:7; 11:9).

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the
Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God; and I hope that we are
made manifest also in your consciences...for the love of Christ controls us,
having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died
for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him
who died and rose again on their behalf...therefore if anyone is in Christ, he
is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now
all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, that God was in Christ reconciling
the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has
committed to us the word of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for
Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of
Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him Who knew no sin to be sin on our
behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians
5:11,14,15,17-21).

The fear of the Lord results in evangelism & righteousness in Christ.

* * * * * * *

“And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The
kingdom of heaven is at hand’...and whatever city or village you enter, inquire
who is worthy in it, and stay at his house until you leave that city. As
you enter the house, give it your greeting. If the house is worthy, give it
your blessing of peace. But if it is not worthy, take back your blessing
of peace. Whoever does not receive you, nor heed your words, as you go out
of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet. Truly I say to you,
it will be more tolerable for the land
of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that
city. Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as
serpents and innocent as doves. But beware of men, for they will hand you over
to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; and you will even be
brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to
the Gentiles. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you
are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it
is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father Who speaks in
you...you will be hated by all because of My name, but it is the one who has
endured to the end who will be saved. But whenever they persecute you in one
city, flee to the next...what I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light;
and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the
housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul;
but rather fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not
two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the
ground apart from your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all
numbered. So do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows. Therefore
everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father Who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before
My Father Who is in heaven” (Matthew 10:7,11-20,22,23,27-33).

“I say to you, My friends, do not be
afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.
But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One Who, after He has killed, has
authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows
sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God. Indeed, the
very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable
than many sparrows. And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the
Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God; but he who denies Me
before men will be denied before the angels of God. And everyone who speaks a
word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes
against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. When they bring you
before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about
how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the
Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say” (Luke
12:4-12).